40,000 Hacked Web Sites Could Infect Your Computer
"Warning: Your Computer Is Infected With Malware." If you've seen this warning, you may have already been hit by a new wave of malicious attacks that's sweeping the Web. According to Websense, up to 40,000 sites have been hacked and loaded with software that invisibly try to infect your PC. If you visit one of these hacked sites, it will redirect you to a site called Beladen that is, fittingly, laden with malicious software designed to target up to 20 different vulnerabilities your computer might have. If you don't have one of these vulnerabilities, the site will pop up a warning that says you have been infected and ask you to download a security suite. Let's just say that if you weren't vulnerable before, you definitely will be if you download the program.
The Beladen attack is notable, not just for its size and scope, but because Web sites that serve malicious code usually only attack one specific vulnerability. According to Websense's threat research manager Carl Leonard, the Beladen site is loaded with "almost every single exploit you can find publicly available right now."
Researchers have been unable to pinpoint the exact source of the attacks, but Websense seems to think they could be coming from the supposedly disbanded cybergang called Russian Business Network (RBN).
The best way to protect yourself is to make sure that your browser and operating system software are updated to the most recent versions, since many of these exploits target antiquated versions of programs and plug-ins like QuickTime and Winzip. Also, use common sense and don't click pop-ups asking you to install mysterious anti-virus software. That's the oldest trick in the book. [From: Websense, via Washington Post and PC World]
Worlds Most Famous Hackers
1. Kevin Mitnick
Unlike many other hackers, Kevin Mitnick didn't use any computer programs or savvy tech-skills to gain access to networks. Rather, he essentially phished passwords, security codes, and the like by essentially hustling actual people. Still, he was convicted and spent five years in prison for unauthorized access to various computer networks in the late '90s. He was released in 2003 and now runs a computer security consulting firm called, naturally, Mitnick Consulting.
Getty Images
2. John Draper (AKA Captain Crunch, Crunch, or Cruncherman)
John Draper is often seen as a legend from the early days of hacking. His expertise was phreaking -- he used a toy whistle (and later, other custom-built devices) to emulate signal tones that effectively hacked AT&T's phone system into rerouting phone calls around the world for no charge.The original whistle was found inside a box of Cap'n Crunch cereal, hence the name. In 1971, several months after the publication of an article in Esquire Magazine on phone phreaking, Draper was arrested for wire fraud. Steve Wozniak, of Apple fame, noticed the article and hired Draper at Apple Computer. Draper went on to write the first word processing application for the Apple II computer. Draper is still a software developer today and he hosts an Internet TV show, Crunch TV.
3. Jonathan James (c0mrade)
In 1999, at the age of 15, Jonathan James gained notoriety for breaking into the computer systems of the Department of Defense. Once in the system, he installed a sniffer application that allowed him to monitor employee usernames and passwords. He later admitted to the deed, but was able to plead out of the resulting wiretapping charges. A previous computer invasion at NASA was later traced back to James, and he was arrested and sentenced to six months of house arrest in 2000. James' arrest marked the first time a juvenile was sentenced for cybercrime in the U.S.
4. Eric Corley (AKA Emmanuel Goldstein)
In 1984, Eric Corley founded '2600 Magazine,' one of the world's most popular hacker publications. He was named a defendant in the DeCSS (a computer program that could decrypt encrypted DVDs) case in 1999 after the 2600 Web site (2600.com) posted links to the software. The movie industry obviously wasn't pleased, and Corley ultimately lost in court. Corley continues publishing '2600' today and hosts several radio shows.
New York Times
5. Adrian Lamo
Dubbed "the Homeless Hacker," Adrian Lamo backpacked across the country for three years around the turn of the millennium, hitting Wi-Fi hotspots and public library computers, which he used to gain access to the computer networks to some of the world's most well-known companies (Yahoo!, Microsoft, Bank of America, and McDonald's, to name a few). He's probably best known for his 2002 infiltration of the New York Times' internal network -- where altered confidential databases and found the home phone numbers of contributors like Warren Beatty and Rush Limbaugh. In 2003, he was arrested by U.S. marshalls, and pleaded guilty to one count of computer crimes against Microsoft, the New York Times, and Lexis-Nexis. In the end, he was sentenced to six months house arrest for the stunt. Lamo has since become a successful journalist.
6. Vasily Gorshkov and Alexey Ivanov
In a sting operation in 2000, the FBI, operating under the guise of Invita Security (a dummy computer security company) contacted Vasily Gorshkov and Alexey Ivanov, two known Russian hackers. They were lured to the U.S. for an employment 'interview' with Invita, and were arrested and imprisoned on multiple counts of conspiracy, computer crime, and fraud, as they had already stolen over 50,000 credit card numbers from Internet service providers (ISPs) and online banks throughout the late '90s.
7. Kevin Poulsen
Kevin Poulsen's most famous hack involves taking over all of Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM's telephone lines in order to ensure his place as the 102nd caller. The prize? A cool new Porsche 944 S2. In 1991, the feds tracked Poulson down for the Porsche stunt and other cybercrimes, and he was sentenced to four years in prison, a three-year ban on computing after release, and a $58,000 fine. Following hid release from prison, Poulsen began a successful career as a journalist and now works at Wired Magazine.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dylanhounddog said 9:47PM on 6-03-2009
Virus spreading jerk
dylanhounddog said 9:52PM on 6-03-2009
virus
rmcfa23125 said 8:15PM on 6-03-2009
The best way to protect from hackers and internet scams is to let your congressman know we need more jail time for these crooks and socialpaths.
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MEA said 10:05PM on 6-03-2009
Do not click on the link below. It's bound to be a virus.
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Hugh said 1:11AM on 6-04-2009
Anyone still using Microsoft Internet Explorer is at risk. What's wrong with you people? Mozilla's Firefox browser is the only way to go. Get it free at Mozilla.com and stop being one of Bill Gates' idiots.
sadiemae1214 said 10:27PM on 6-03-2009
Been there, done that. Got that warning and a redirect to download a "security site" which I ignored. Checked my firewall and went right to my anti virus and did a complete scan. My security stopped it before it could get started. No problems in a while.
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Intelligenceonly said 10:57PM on 6-03-2009
This entire article makes me ill. These people are guilty of crimes and yet they get off with 'house arrest', no computing for x number of years, then they get hired by computer software companies? Give me a break. They should be strung up and left to die. Has anyone here ever had their computer hit by a worm, a virus, etc? Has anyone ever had their identity stolen by someone using a computer? Have any of you had your credit ruined because someone used the Internet to open accounts after stealing your identity? Has a single one of you ever had to go to your bank to deal with charges on your credit card you did not make which were made by one of these type criminals? Well, I have. Four years and counting and my life is still not the same and never will be. I have to watch things every day. I am hoping someone gets smart and makes computer crimes an ABSOLUTE FELONY with death sentence. That's the only thing that is going to keep them from serving the 'slap on the risk' and doing it again. Even getting hired by legitimate companies scares the dickens out of me. Who knows what they can / will do if they don't get a raise, get laid off, etc. IT'S A CRIME ! TREAT IT AS SUCH !!
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miabella469 said 12:54AM on 6-04-2009
I agree with you, the Fed have to make new law that hold that persons responsible for identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission have to make sure those peoples will receive the punishment for ruin other peoples life.
Currently I was the victim of ID theft, some one make pretrial offer of merchandise through internet for organic vitamin, I place an order but the merchandise was never ship to me, and my credit card was clean out by this animal, until I can not purchase prom dress for my daughter, my credit was use in Las Vegas, Colorado, etc, it was distribute until all my money gone & ruin my credit history
So every one let sign petition for Identity theft / cyber crime will be punish as death penalty.
Mia
Mia
catzgal13 said 11:20PM on 6-03-2009
Death and bodily harm are going too far, but I agree that this bastards get off way too easily. Stealing identity is considered a serious crime, it's just that it's hard to detect, so I'll let that one go for a moment. But people who release viruses are just making people miserable for the hell of it. Having spent hours on end during two seperate occasions removing something called "Spyware Protect 2009" from my laptop, I'd like for these people to be marched in public while everyone who's ever had to deal with their creation pelts them with rotten vegetables and then condem them to remove their own viruses ten times over with no bathroom break.
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John said 11:28PM on 6-03-2009
OH NO,... we just better shut down the Entire Internet and introduce the Pentagons propaganda Internet 2.
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Ammaroth said 2:28PM on 6-09-2009
isn't it funny that all these famous hackers later went on to have successful careers post-jailtime?
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Linda said 12:23AM on 6-04-2009
I created the internet.
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L Richard Adams said 1:19AM on 6-04-2009
You are trying to steal Al Gore*s Sunshine.
Hazelhenni said 12:35AM on 6-04-2009
It Happend to us and hubby paid for the Software or should I say virus, We called the bank and stoped the payment >It cost us $200 To fix my computer and we are old. and we wont go there next time.
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David said 1:02AM on 6-04-2009
On the machines I have worked on all i had to do is go to control panel.....User and creat a new admin account....it will tell you a script is running on this page do you want to stop it....you say yes....when finished delete the enfected account....it will ask you to delete all files and folders ....you say yes....all gone!
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David said 1:03AM on 6-04-2009
Blame Al Gore!!!!!
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jbond4ever said 1:06AM on 6-04-2009
How about you buy a Mac , i have never had a virus problem. Buy a pc and enjoy your life with hackers.
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jbond4ever said 1:09AM on 6-04-2009
How about you buy a Mac, i have never had a virus. Buy a pc and enjoy a life of hackers...lol
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Maria said 3:10AM on 6-04-2009
I just got this virus on my PC yesterday. I have to agree that macs are much better. I am currently using a mac, its at least 5 years older, and it still works so much better. It has also never had a virus or anything of the sort.
I would also have to agree that Internet Explorer is not the best way to go. I really only use it because windows makes your life very difficult if you don't use their preferred software, but I am reconsidering it after this. When I attempted to open a page in the browser to download the programs I need to get rid of this horrid virus, it wouldn't load anything and told me that every single page I tried visiting was blocked for some security reason. If it weren't for Safari, which worked fine, I would never have been able to get what I needed.
I would generally consider myself pretty tech savvy and I am the go-to person in my family for computers. I'm only saying this to warn anyone who may think that their knowledge about these sorts of things will prevent them from contracting it.
I GOT THIS VIRUS FROM A FACEBOOK APPLICATION, so beware. I didn't even get all the way through the page before my computer froze up. I'd suggest just not adding any new applications until this virusmania is under control. Or if you feel you must, message the person who sent you the app request to make sure it is legit.
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Maria said 3:13AM on 6-04-2009
BTW:
If you got it too and are unsure where to go from here, this is what I'm currently doing to restore my computer.
Go to download.com
-search for and download "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware" (or just type in mbam). Run a full system scan, even if it takes forever, because its worth it to not overlook anything.
-do the same thing with a program called "Super anti spyware". I realize the name sounds fake or generic but i've seen both of these work in the past.
*It's important to use both because one removes spyware and one removes malware.
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